NEW YORK: Only Palestinian statehood can bring an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a top Emirati official told the 80th UN General Assembly on Saturday.
Lana Nusseibeh, assistant minister for political affairs and envoy of the minister of foreign affairs, repeated the UAE’s warning to Israel over West Bank annexation proposals, adding that the world is confronting threats to national sovereignty and creeping ideologies that are “working together to destroy the foundations of progress and development.”
She said: “Nothing can justify the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians from Gaza, as well as from the West Bank.”
Her comments follow her country’s denunciation of Israeli threats to annex the West Bank. The UAE, which normalized relations with Israel five years ago, said earlier this month that any annexation attempt would represent a “red line” in the bilateral relationship.
Nusseibeh said any prospective Palestinian state must contain no elements with links to terrorism or extremism, and should restrict weapons to military use.
She also condemned Israel’s “incomprehensible mobilization” against Qatar earlier this month.
The strike, targeting Hamas negotiators in the capital Doha, showed a “clear disregard” for Qatar’s “national security and the security of the Arab region, as well as for fundamental international principles,” Nusseibeh said.
She laid out the UAE’s key demands to bring peace to Gaza: an immediate and permanent ceasefire, ending Israel’s siege, the release of hostages by Hamas and other militant groups, and the urgent, unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid at scale.
“The UAE continues its role as the largest donor of aid to Gaza, mobilizing all its relations, resources and capabilities to this end,” Nusseibeh said. “We’ll continue to deliver aid to the most in need despite the restrictions and obstacles.”
